ePlex Blood Culture Identification Panel - Gram Positive (BCID-GP) Panel

The GenMark ePlex Blood Culture Identification Gram-Positive (BCID-GP) Panel is a qualitative nucleic acid multiplex in vitro diagnostic test intended for use on GenMark's ePlex Instrument for simultaneous qualitative detection and identification of multiple potentially pathogenic gram-positive bacterial organisms and select determinants associated with antimicrobial resistance in positive blood culture. In addition, the ePlex BCID-GP Panel is capable of detecting a wide variety of gram-negative bacteria (Pan Gram-Negative assay) and several Candida species (Pan Candida assay). The ePlex BCID-GP Panel is performed directly on blood culture samples identified as positive by a continuous monitoring blood culture system and which contain gram-positive organism.

The following bacterial organisms and genes associated with antibiotic resistance are identified using the ePlex BCID-GP Panel: Bacillus cereus group, Bacillus subtilis group, Corynebacterium, Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes), Enterococcus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Streptococcus, Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), Streptococcus anginosus group, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), mecA, mecC, vanA and vanB.

The ePlex BCID-GP Panel contains assays for the detection of genetic determinants associated with resistance to methicillin (mecA and mecC) and vancomycin (vanA and vanB) to aid in the identification of potentially antimicrobial resistant organisms in positive blood culture samples. The antimicrobial resistance gene detected may or may not be associated with the agent responsible for disease.

The ePlex BCID-GP Panel also contains targets designed to detect a broad range of organisms with a potentially misleading Gram stain result or organisms that may be missed by Gram staining altogether, for example in the case of co-infections. These include a broad Pan Gram-Negative assay as well as a Pan Candida assay, which is designed to detect four of the most prevalent Candida species: Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilosis.

The detection and identification of specific bacterial and fungal nucleic acids from individuals exhibiting signs and/or symptoms of bloodstream infection aids in the diagnosis of bloodstream infection when used in conjunction with other clinical information. The results from the ePlex BCID-GP Panel are intended to be interpreted in conjunction with Gram stain results and should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis, treatment, or other patient management decisions.

Negative results in the setting of a suspected bloodstream infection may be due to infection with pathogens that are not detected by this test. Positive results do not rule out co-infection with other organisms; the organism(s) detected by the ePlex BCID-GP Panel may not be the definite cause of disease. Additional laboratory testing (e.g. sub-culturing of positive blood cultures for identification of organisms not detected by ePlex BCID-GP Panel and for susceptibility testing, differentiation of mixed growth and association of antimicrobial resistance marker genes to a specific organism) and clinical presentation must be taken into consideration in the final diagnosis of blood stream infection.